Author Archive for Michaans Auctions

One artist that many people are looking for at art auction houses is Andy Warhol. He is one of the most iconic artists of his time and there is no denying that the work that he has produced is about as unique as it can be. He utilizes an array of colors and styles to make sure that his art is eye-catching and perfect for those who want art that makes a major statement, especially about various popular aspects of society, such as celebrities.

Andy Warhol“Fright Wig Red”Silkscreen

Mickey Mouse

No matter your knowledge of art or Andy Warhol, you know who Mickey Mouse is and Warhol created art depicting the iconic animated character. His Mickey Mouse piece came out in 1981. This piece was part of his Myths series and the art is actually a portrait that is silk-screened. Diamond dust inlays are a part of the piece, giving them a wavering and soft light that you just do not find with other pieces of art. There were ten fictional characters that were part of this series, but Mickey Mouse is undoubtedly the most popular of all of them.

Big Electric Chair

In 1967, Warhol created this piece that catches your eye with a sharp contrast of purple and green. This piece of art was done thinking about New York State electric chair executions. The photo shows an old electric chair and it is essentially a metaphor on death. This piece was part of a series and the most popular one in it. Warhol created this piece to further the discussion concerning using the death penalty during the 1960s decade.

Flowers Series

Andy Warhol did much of his work in the form of a series. This means that each series had multiple works. In 1964, he was quite busy and this is when he was working on his Flowers Series. These paintings all have a monumental scale and there are seven of them in the series. This series really was quite different than the other work that the artist was focusing on at the time. He spent a lot of time looking at subjects, such as death and celebrities, so seeing him putting more of a focus on nature and abstract art was interesting.

You can see that Andy Warhol is certainly an iconic artist and his work is one-of-a-kind. When you want to think about collecting his art, make sure that you learn more about the most popular pieces first because this makes it easier to understand his perspective. Once you have some solid knowledge, it is time to head to art auction houses to look for some pieces that are his or similar for your collection.

If you have ever attended California auctions, you have surely noticed a lot of collectible penny coins. There are a number of these that have considerable value and are popular among those who are familiar with coin collecting. Knowing more about some of the most popular penny coins will give you a place to start while you learn more about collecting this type of coin.

1856 Flying Eagle Coin

If you are into this coin, you will have to work hard to secure one since only 2,000 were made, making it difficult to find this penny coin. If you are lucky enough to come across this coin and the condition is excellent, you may fetch yourself as much as $85,000 for a single coin. While there are a number of situations in which people pay more, the average selling price for this coin was around $7,000 in 2015.

1943 Copper Penny

Someone sold one of these coins in 2010 and they earned a whopping $1.7 million for it. During this year, the coins were supposed to be composed of steel, but some slipped through being minted of a copper-alloy. This mistake could earn you a large sum of cash today if you are lucky enough to come upon one.

1944 Steel Penny

Coin experts say that this penny was minted by mistake and this mistake could earn you a major profit today. In fact, some of these are selling for as much as $100,000 when the coin is in excellent condition. The error that was made when this coin was produced was in the material. At this time, the pennies should have been made of copper, but a hopper error resulted in some pennies being made of steel, which was the wrong material.

1969-S Double Die Obverse

If you take a penny from your change wallet or jar, you can see that each side is different. You have a heads side and a tails side. This is what was supposed to be printed on the pennies that were minted during this time; however, an error resulted in some 1969 pennies having either heads or tails on both sides of the coin. Some of these coins have sold for as much as $28,200. However, in order for your penny to be one that gets that type of sale price, it has to have the “S,” and this can be seen with a magnifying glass.

You now have more information about collectible penny coins and some of the most popular ones that are sometimes found at California auctions. You can use this information as a springboard for learning more about coin collecting, especially some of the most popular pennies that people collect.

When it comes to art auctioneers, they give you a chance to find an array of cool pieces of art from artists all over the world. One of the artists you might find work from includes Percy Gray. This artist has a very unique style and once you are familiar with his work, it is not hard to easily spot other pieces that he has created. Knowing more about some of his best work makes it easier for collectors to choose the ones that will best fit into their collection.

California Oak

Percy Gray “Path Under an Oak Tree, 1912”

This is a painting where the primary focus is on a large oak tree in California. It was done using watercolors, so it has a very real feel to it. In fact, if you look at it from a distance, you might accidentally mistake it for an actual photograph of a tree. It uses mostly a variety of different greens to accomplish the very natural look of the scenery. There are some splashes of bright colors to help draw your eye to the piece before you get to notice what the actual focal point of it is. While there are tons of paintings that have a large tree as the focus, this is one that has an almost eerie feel to it, making it more unique than the others.

California Eucalyptus

Percy Gray “Eucalyptus Trees”

If oak trees are not your thing, you might want to look at this painting that features a different type of tree. This painting looks and feels a lot more open than California Oak. However, it also has that same almost dark feel as the other painting. The day appears to be mostly cloudy, but the trees remain the focus of the painting. They are accentuated by other natural elements, such as smaller bushes and trees and clouds that look incredibly realistic.

Poppies and Eucalyptus

While this one still has that almost eerie edge to it too, it also appears a bit brighter than the other two paintings that are discussed here. This looks like more of a fall season, since there is a lot of orange and yellow colors incorporated into it. It also has both trees and flowers that are working to best balance each other.

You can see that there are a number of Percy Gray paintings that you’ll want to learn more about. While these are some of the most popular, there are many other options for you to explore. Make sure to expand your horizons and make it a point to check out all of his work to get a more complete view of the talents that this artist brought to the world.

Before heading to the auction house, you want to learn more about famous art.. Paris is a city that is heavily influenced by some of the world’s most famous artists. There are certain iconic paintings that you will need to visit this romantic city to see in person. Viewing these is sure to be a memorable experience and will help you to expand your art appreciation.

The Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci “Mona Lisa”

This iconic painting was created by Leonardo da Vinci. This is a painted portrait that is supposed to be of Francesco del Giocondo’s wife, Lisa Gherardini. It was between 1503 and 1517 when this work of art was created. At one point, this painting adorned a wall in the bedroom of Napoleon. Since 1797, this painting has had a permanent position in the Louvre Museum.

Impression, Sunrise

If you are familiar with Claude Monet, you surely know this painting. This picture is of a fleeting sunrise over his hometown of Le Havre. The Impressionist movement is said to have begun with this famous piece. This painting is not the real thing, but an impression of it, hence the term “Impressionist.” In 1985, this painting was stolen from the Musee Marmottan Monet by Youssef Khimoun and Philippe Jamin. In 1990, the painting was recovered.

The Gleaners

Jean-François Millet “The Gleaners”

If you are just getting into art, you might not be familiar with this painting or its artist who is Jean-Francois Millet. This painting dates back to 1857 and it depicts the French countryside and the workers who spent their days tending to the fields in this area. It is a type of revolutionary work and it can be seen at the Musee d’Orsay.

Starry Night Over the Rhone

This is probably one of the most famous paintings in history and it was created in 1888 by Vincent Van Gogh. There is a second version of this painting that the artist created shortly after the original when he was in a mental institution. The second one is considerably more violent than the first which was romantic and serene; it can be seen in New York at the MOMA. However, the original is housed in Paris.

Vincent van Gogh “The Starry Night”

In a Cafe

This is a painting that was created by Edgar Degas. It depicts a woman alone in a cafe and is inspired by the Belle Epoque Paris urban life of the time period. It was painted in 1873 and you can see it in person at the Musee d’Orsay.

You can see that there are a number of beautiful and inspiring paintings that you can see in person in Paris. Seeing these helps to enhance your appreciation of painting and helps you to better develop your knowledge of art before heading to an auction house.

When it comes to art auctions, you want to learn more about art before you even go to one. One genre of art that is hot right now is Russian art. There are a number of great artists and individual pieces to explore to help you see more about the overall style associated with this kind of art. Once you have a basic understanding of some of the best modern pieces and artists in the Russian art world, it will make it easier to find the best pieces.

Vladimir Donatovitch Orlovskii “Harvesting” 1882

Exploring Some of the Most Popular Artists

First and foremost, there are a few artists you want to know about right away and these include:

All of these artists have an array of different styles, so it is easy to find one that creates work that best fits your tastes. Whether you prefer art that portrays the human form or you are looking for something that depicts various parts of nature, there are a number of different modern Russian artists to choose from. Make sure that you explore the artists and some of their most popular pieces to learn more about their style and the various subjects that they use in their work.

Looking at Modern Russian Paintings That Are Popular

There is an array of Russian paintings that are popular. All of these are created by a variety of different artists and the subjects vary greatly. All of these tend to catch the eyes of both new and old art lovers alike. These paintings are a great place to start when you are learning more about art from this country. Some popular options when it comes to various paintings created by modern Russian artists includes:

-Summer by Alexey Chernigin

-Provincial Casanova by Stanislav Plutenko

-The Gypsy by Nikolai Biokhin

-Autumn by Dmitri Annenkov

-Olive Ground by Arush Votsmush

-Four Ages of Man by Mikhail Golubev

Other Great Modern Russian Art Options

Just like other types of art, you will find that paintings are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Russian art types. You can find things, such as sculptures, jewelry and even textiles and clothing. There are also art options that are also functional.

You can see that there is a lot to know concerning Russian art, but now you have some general knowledge concerning the topic. Make sure to read as much as you can to stay current concerning Russian art. This helps you to be successful when you attend art auctions.

When you are looking at California auctions, make sure to check out the collectible penny coins that might be available. There are so many options, so make sure to educate yourself about the different years and about the ones that might be especially valuable. However, no matter the ones that you choose, there are some benefits associated with collecting this type of coin. Once you know what these are, you will be ready to engage in this hobby on a more frequent basis.

United States $2 1/2 Gold Coin, 1911-D, AU

Enjoy Coins that Are Rare

When people collect penny coins, one of the most exciting parts of the process is finding those unicorns that are incredibly rare. Not only will this give you some major satisfaction, but it gives you the chance to have something that few other people have. If you find the right rare coins, the worth could also set you up for life in terms of the financial aspect.

Challenge Yourself to Find the Best Collectible Penny Coins

US 1909 S VDB Penny

It is exciting to collect penny coins and it is a constant challenge to look for those that you do not already have. For some people, collecting these coins is almost like a sport. You will find that as you start to find those on your in search of list that the act of continuing your search almost feels like a modern-day treasure hunt.

Earn Some Money on the Side

One of the biggest benefits to collecting these types of coins is to make some money. While not all of the pennies are worth big bucks, some of them are. However, even if the coins that you get are not worth big money when you get them, many of them will acquire value over time. It is a good idea to pick up those that you can get for a good price that have a high likelihood of increasing in value. This can help you to essentially invest for the future.

Learn More About Coins and Other Aspects of Society

All of the penny coins that are available have a unique story behind them that you can learn more about. This allows you to learn more about the history of the coin, as well as about things like the associated society, culture and politics as they relate to the coins.

You can see that collectible penny coins are a great choice for those who enjoy collecting coins and art. You now know why this hobby is beneficial and you know that California auctions are a great place to find these types of items. Just make sure that you are picking up the coins that best meet the direction of your collecting portfolio.

When you think about mid-century modern art, you probably immediately consider pieces like the Papa Bear Chair and artists like Hans Wegner. However, when you start going to estate liquidators, you will find that there is so much more to this genre. Make sure to expand your knowledgeChange Permalinks of this type of art so that you know the best pieces to look for.

Louise Bourgeois

This artist is known for her very evocative pieces. One of her most famous was created in 1974 and it was a type of enclosed installation that was titled Destruction of the Father. It was meant to depict a womb and it was made of plaster and latex. Another popular piece of hers was Maman, a piece that she created in 1999. This was a type of sculpture that was essentially a huge spider in the form of a bronze sculpture that was nine meters high.

Louise Bourgeois “Maman”

Marcel Duchamp

This artist played a major role in the Futurism and Dada movements of the early 20th century. In 1917, his Fountain piece was one of his most controversial, resulting in it also becoming wildly popular. This piece was a porcelain urinal and the controversy mostly came in when he added a false signature to it. His work is known for being incredibly expressive and he made it a point to rebel against the thought that art must be fine.

Marcel Duchamp “Fountain”

Frida Kahlo

This is an artist that lived a life that is the thing of legends. She was from Mexico City and used her life’s tragedies and her own personal turmoil to propel her work. This artist is often considered to be a Surrealist, but she was not fond of being put into this category. Her work focused a lot on the female experience and the complexities that came with, mixed with the various experiences that she had throughout her life. Her works often combined both disturbing and vibrant elements.

Georgia O’Keefe

Even if you do not follow art, you have certainly heard this artists name. She put a major focus on blurring the lines between abstraction and representation. Her paintings added a completely new layer of significance to what appeared to be basic southwestern American landscapes. She also painted flowers in ways that put most of the focus on the flower’s centers instead of on the petals like other artists.

Now you know more about the mid-century modern art to look for when you go to estate liquidators. This type of art is relatively easy to find and it can prove to be quite valuable. This makes it an excellent investment for all art investors, both novice and expert.

When you are perusing the art available at estate liquidators, you might find some interesting Native American pieces and you want to have a better understanding about what they are. It is easier to break it down by type and focus on learning about one type at a time. One popular option is Inca art. There are a number of options to learn about and once you do, you will better understand why Inca art is such as popular choice.

Inca Textile and Clothing

While these items are necessary for the Incas, they are also a type of art. They utilize fabric from a variety of sources, such as cotton, llama wool and alpaca wool. Textiles and clothing were a major part of the Incan society and all of the pieces had an artistic edge to it even when the items were created for a functional purpose.

INCA tunic, Cotton and wool

Inca Pottery

The pottery created by the Incas goes back thousands of years. They never really focused on the human form like many other cultures did when creating different pieces of pottery. Instead, they put their focus on different geometric shapes and patterns in their pottery. It is also common to find pieces that depict the heads of different animals.

CHIMU/INCA VESSEL, Peru, circa 1000 – 1400 A.D

Inca Architecture

While you will not find this when you are perusing estates, it is still something that you want to know about. The Incas created exquisite architecture, especially since they did not have the technology to make what they made very easy. Their work was able to withstand natural disasters, including earthquakes, for centuries. You will see that the architecture created by the Incas is very characteristic and easy to spot.

Inca Jewelry

When you are looking at Inca art, this is one of the biggest things you will find and one of the easiest to collect compared to other forms of Inca art. The jewelry of the Incas often has a history that ensures that every piece is unique. They used a lot of gold in their jewelry and mixed it with other materials which makes the jewelry made by the Incas easy to recognize. Those who were not considered to be elite in the Inca society only wore jewelry for special occasions, so each piece had specific meaning.

Now you know more about Inca art and what to look for when you are exploring the different options at estate liquidators. Make sure to take note of the pieces and forms of art that you like the most so that it will be easier to spot once you see it. This allows you to easily find the Inca art that you want to add to your collection.

When it comes to art auctions, one of the first types of art that people gravitate toward is American art, and more specifically, paintings. When you are new to the art world, paintings are a great place to start because there are so many options. They are also the easiest to appreciate and learn more about. Knowing more about some of the best American paintings gives you a place to start in your quest to become more knowledgeable.

Portrait of a German Officer

This is a painting you might not know a lot about if you do not regularly follow art. However, this was created in 1914 by Marsden Hartley. It was painted to pay tribute to a friend of the artist who had died. It features a number of symbols that are associated with Karl von Freyburg, the fallen friend of the artist.

Marsden Hartley “Portrait of a German Officer”

Pantocrator

This painting is quite recent and it was created in 2002. The artist is Vincent Desiderio. The painting depicts three scenes that do not appear to go together at all. In fact, it is divided into three different panels and it is modeled after art that was very popular during the Renaissance time period. One of the panels shows a woman in the shower, the other a tower and the third is of a satellite in space. This is meant to depict the role that science plays in the everyday lives of people.

Allegory

This painting was created by Kara Walker in 1996 and quickly became one of the most popular paintings in American art. It follows the style that the artist is known for and focuses on the themes that she often uses in her work, including sexuality, history, race and religion. What it interesting about her work is that the interpretation is never clear, allowing you to make of it what you see.

Carol

This was created by Patrick Nagel in the 1980s. It looks like a woman you would expect to see walking down a runway during that decade. The woman has bright and smooth skin, is wearing high-fashion clothing and has jet black hair. This reminds people of the style and fashion of the 1980s.

PATRICK NAGEL (American 1945-1984) “Kristen” Serigraph on paper

You can see that there are so many different options when you are looking at some of the most popular paintings in American history. All of these paintings have a story behind them that allows you to better understand the thought process of the artist while they were creating it. Once you have a list of some of your favorite American paintings, you can start to look for them and those that are similar at art auctions.

Collecting art can be incredibly rewarding for a number of reasons. You want to know what the benefits of collecting are, especially for everyday people who are not art professionals. The art auction house is a great place for everyone and it gives you the chance to learn more about various types of art. Explore the advantages associated with collecting art and then get started with your new investment opportunity and hobby.

MAURITS CORNELIS ESCHER (Dutch 1898-1972) “Ant,” Lithograph

Meet New People for Networking

You do not have to work in art to benefit from networking with fellow art lovers. Once you get started with collecting art, you will find out about different events that are happening that you can attend. Keep in mind that a variety of art collectors are powerful people and they have a lot of connections. This can benefit you in your career no matter what industry you work in. So, take advantage of the different events even if you are not planning to buy at all of them.

Learn More About Art and History

Art and history are closely related, so when you start to collect art, you get to increase your knowledge of both of these. When you see pieces that inspire you, make sure to read up on them and what the purpose of the pieces are. For example, if you see a painting that makes you feel passionate about it, make it a point to learn about the history of the piece and why the artist created it.

Change Your Thinking and Enjoy More Detailed Thoughts

Art is simple and complex at the same time. This challenges your current way of thinking and makes you appreciate the small details. Those who collect art tend to be able to better analyze details, allowing them to see the bigger picture much faster. This can benefit you in all areas of life and aid you when it comes to things like solving problems in your life.

Become More Culturally Aware

All cultures throughout the world have art as a major focus. When you explore the different art available, you will start to learn about the cultures that created it. This makes it easier to be culturally aware and to expand your knowledge of people all over the world.

You can see that there are many reasons you might consider starting to collect art. When you are ready, head to an art auction house to see what is available and to increase your chances of finding great pieces. At this type of event, it is often easier to find a variety of art and there is a better chance of getting a great deal on what you find.